How relevant are tyre tests in the real world? Worried!!

How relevant are tyre tests in the real world? Worried!!

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Discussion

sat1983

Original Poster:

1,252 posts

183 months

Wednesday 24th November 2021
quotequote all
I'm slightly concerned about my latest purchase, the All Season Pirelli SF2's.

They finished 14th in this German test:

https://www.tyrereviews.com/Article/2021-Auto-Bild...

However this test, on the same website ranks it 2nd, which is the one I based my purchase on:

https://www.tyrereviews.com/Article/2021-Tyre-Revi...

Firstly- can't quite understand how the same tyre can result so differently?

Are most All Season premium branded tyres neck and neck in everyday situations?

V8mate

45,899 posts

188 months

Wednesday 24th November 2021
quotequote all
sat1983 said:
Are most All Season premium branded tyres neck and neck in everyday situations?
No. The answer is always the most recent version of Michelin CrossClimate.

Bill

52,472 posts

254 months

Wednesday 24th November 2021
quotequote all
sat1983 said:
I'm slightly concerned about my latest purchase, the All Season Pirelli SF2's.

They finished 14th in this German test:

https://www.tyrereviews.com/Article/2021-Auto-Bild...

However this test, on the same website ranks it 2nd, which is the one I based my purchase on:

https://www.tyrereviews.com/Article/2021-Tyre-Revi...

Firstly- can't quite understand how the same tyre can result so differently?

Are most All Season premium branded tyres neck and neck in everyday situations?
Tyrereviews explains the differences in testing/scoring in the first link.

sat1983

Original Poster:

1,252 posts

183 months

Wednesday 24th November 2021
quotequote all
Bill said:
Tyrereviews explains the differences in testing/scoring in the first link.
"The Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF2 lost a lot of points in this test due to the worst wet braking and wet handling in this test, compared to the Tyre Reviews test where it had reasonable wet performance. This is harder to explain, but could again be a function of the low grip surface of the tracks or the tyre size differences."

Still doesn't speak volumes to me- the bottom line I want to know as a consumer is "Have I bought the right tyre or not? as based on those two tests it seems very inconclusive.

Would have loved the Michelin or the others but they didn't have the size I needed.

E-bmw

9,104 posts

151 months

Wednesday 24th November 2021
quotequote all
sat1983 said:
Bill said:
Tyrereviews explains the differences in testing/scoring in the first link.
"The Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF2 lost a lot of points in this test due to the worst wet braking and wet handling in this test, compared to the Tyre Reviews test where it had reasonable wet performance. This is harder to explain, but could again be a function of the low grip surface of the tracks or the tyre size differences."
Or quite simply the tyres it was up against/the method of testing being different in each test.

Pica-Pica

13,621 posts

83 months

Wednesday 24th November 2021
quotequote all
Wet performance trumps everything in the U.K. (unless you live in the highlands where specific winter tyres are probably advisable). After that, then the other performances are dependent on your own circumstances. Distance travelling may make noise and comfort next most important; maybe dry handling if you push your car. As another poster almost said, the answer for all-seasons is always … Vredestein.

dhutch

14,198 posts

196 months

Wednesday 24th November 2021
quotequote all
Its also worth noting that 14th, in a test containing a load of good tyres, is still going to a shed load better than most budget tyres.

Testing wet performance at 22 deg rather than at 4 deg will also potentially really depend on the rubber compound.

wyson

2,066 posts

103 months

Wednesday 24th November 2021
quotequote all
Manufacturers often update tyres in mid life without telling anyone. Can make a massive difference to their overall ranking. I suspect they did this here.

Different sizes can have different constructions, the tread might work better at different widths, also affecting results.

So, in your situation, I’d look at the manufacturing date and size. If its a newer tyre at a similar size to the 2nd place test, I’d rest easy. If its closer to the larger tyre in the 14th placed test and has an older manufacturing date, like they were made more than a year ago, I’d worry.

Edited by wyson on Wednesday 24th November 11:28

paddy1970

691 posts

108 months

Wednesday 24th November 2021
quotequote all
Do you still believe in testing?

There are 4 main problems:
1) Tyre size affect performance
2) Slight differences in temperature & conditions greatly affect the results
3) Manufacturers may provide "prepared" tyres
4) Conflict of interest from testers.

So I have long ignored test reviews and either bought and tried tyres myself or rely on feedback from friends....

The same applies to cars, motorbikes....

mmm-five

11,227 posts

283 months

Wednesday 24th November 2021
quotequote all
Doesn't matter what the reviews say, as you've bought them already wink

sat1983

Original Poster:

1,252 posts

183 months

Wednesday 24th November 2021
quotequote all
mmm-five said:
Doesn't matter what the reviews say, as you've bought them already wink
I can cancel the order today smile

Thanks for the feedback so far. Let's face it- those tyres and 4WD should easily see my car through the UK weather!

Maybe I'm focusing far too much on the reviews. If it came reviewed 2nd by a well respected reviewer- can't be too bad.

Monkeylegend

26,226 posts

230 months

Wednesday 24th November 2021
quotequote all
Just drive a bit more carefully in the wet.

E-bmw

9,104 posts

151 months

Wednesday 24th November 2021
quotequote all
On a slightly related subject it always surprises me how few "winter" tyres are actually A rated for wet performance & perform anywhere near a good
"summer" tyre in these comparisons in wet weather tests.

dhutch

14,198 posts

196 months

Wednesday 24th November 2021
quotequote all
E-bmw said:
On a slightly related subject it always surprises me how few "winter" tyres are actually A rated for wet performance & perform anywhere near a good
"summer" tyre in these comparisons in wet weather tests.
I can only assume that the tread and compound required for snow is not idea for very wet weather?




E-bmw

9,104 posts

151 months

Wednesday 24th November 2021
quotequote all
dhutch said:
I can only assume that the tread and compound required for snow is not idea for very wet weather?
You may well be right, my only explanation also.

GreenV8S

30,149 posts

283 months

Thursday 25th November 2021
quotequote all
sat1983 said:
Let's face it- those tyres and 4WD should easily see my car through the UK weather!
None of the options will be terrible.

I doubt that any of the people testing tyres could tell you which tyre they were driving in a real-world environment and I doubt that a typical driver would be able to tell the difference at all. And even if you suppose the performance difference could be as much as 10% under some specific conditions, no sensible person would drive so that this 10% mattered. It's not as if everyone immediately falls off the road when conditions get bad. You drive within the grip you have.

dhutch

14,198 posts

196 months

Thursday 25th November 2021
quotequote all
GreenV8S said:
I doubt that any of the people testing tyres could tell you which tyre they were driving in a real-world environment and I doubt that a typical driver would be able to tell the difference at all. And even if you suppose the performance difference could be as much as 10% under some specific conditions, no sensible person would drive so that this 10% mattered. It's not as if everyone immediately falls off the road when conditions get bad. You drive within the grip you have.
I am sure.